Four-Star Films : ‘Sounder’

This 1972 release is a rousingly effective tear-jerker about a family of black Southern sharecroppers during the Depression. Simple, quiet and moving, Steven Spielberg might have studied it--along with the work of Ford, Renoir and Griffith--before embarking on “The Color Purple.” Directed by Martin Ritt; with Paul Winfield, Cicely Tyson, Kevin Hooks and Taj Mahal, who also provides a nice blues score (Disney Tuesday at 9 p.m. and Wednesday at 3:35 a.m.).

Other four-star films airing this week:

Rebel Without a Cause / A&E;, Sunday, 8 a.m.

Abe Lincoln in Illinois / AMC, Sunday, 8 a.m.

Throne of Blood / BRAVO, Sunday. 8:05 p.m.

Henry V (1945) / BRAVO, Monday, 11:30 a.m.

Wuthering Heights / AMC Monday, 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

From Here to Eternity / Showtime, Thursday, noon.